"Your servant Xing'er (Ling'er) greets His Highness!"
The two young maids hurried to bow to him as Jun Mohan walked towards them and their mistress.
"Rise, both of you!"
Jun Mohan glanced at Xing'er and Ling'er and said lightly.
"Your Highness, why are you back so early today? Are the preparations for the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet in the palace all done?" Leng Ruo Li asked with some confusion.
Jun Mohan nodded.
"After several days of continuous work, things are mostly ready. My father saw me busy in the palace these past two days and was afraid I would collapse from exhaustion. So today, after I finished, he granted me permission to return to the royal estate early to spend more time with you."
Jun Mohan walked in front of Leng Ruo Li, his gaze fixed on her face. His lips curved upwards into a faint smile, a smile as captivating and poignant as the lingering spring rain in Jiangnan.
Seeing their Royal Highness and Consort engrossed in each other again, the two maids rejoiced and quietly withdrew.
"Oh, stop it. Don't be so affectionate in broad daylight," Leng Ruo Li chided Jun Mohan with a playful glare.
Upon hearing this, Jun Mohan smiled at Leng Ruo Li with great doting.
"The King and Queen of Ji have arrived," Leng Ruo Li suddenly changed the topic.
"Yes, I know. I heard the steward mention it when I returned to the estate," Jun Mohan said, a smile playing on his lips as he sighed softly.
"Alas, who would have thought that the little beggar I casually saved out of kindness was actually the son that the King and Queen of Ji had been searching for for many years," Leng Ruo Li couldn't help but sigh.
"Indeed!"
Jun Mohan nodded slightly after hearing Leng Ruo Li's words and smiled again. Leng Ruo Li was mesmerized by his handsome smile.
Ever since Jun Mohan had been with her, she noticed he smiled much more often than before. Previously, Jun Mohan always had a cold expression on his face, but now his expression was no longer so stiff, and she could often see him smiling.
"Li'er, what were you saying about planting those two plots of land with crops?" Jun Mohan suddenly remembered and asked.
"I want to take out sweet potatoes, corn, and potatoes from my spatial storage to cultivate them and see if the soil environment here is suitable for planting these high-yield crops. If these crops can be successfully planted, and the cultivation techniques are vigorously promoted, allowing all farmers in Tianwu Kingdom to plant these three types of crops, then the common people of Tianwu Kingdom will no longer suffer from hunger this winter," Leng Ruo Li said seriously.
"Li'er, are these three crops you mentioned higher yielding than rice?" Jun Mohan asked disbelievingly.
"Of course! Sweet potatoes and potatoes are many times more productive than rice. Don't you remember when we were trapped in the system space on Flame Mountain, I made candied sweet potatoes and hot and sour shredded potatoes for you? You enjoyed them so much then!" Leng Ruo Li retorted.
"Uh..."
"I have eaten so many things made by Li'er that I can't remember what they look like. How about, Li'er, would you make those two dishes for me again at noon?" Jun Mohan said shamelessly.
Leng Ruo Li listened, rolled her eyes at Jun Mohan twice, and thought to herself, "How did this man turn into a foodie now?"
Then, Leng Ruo Li shook her head and walked into the room. Jun Mohan followed her.
Next, Leng Ruo Li took Jun Mohan's large hand, and with a thought, they appeared in her personal system space.
Leng Ruo Li led Jun Mohan to the granary in the space. She took a large sweet potato from the rack and introduced it to him.
"Jun Mohan, see this red-skinned thing in my hand? It's a sweet potato. It can be eaten cooked or raw. Come, I'll wash one for you to try."
Saying this, Leng Ruo Li went to the faucet and carefully washed the sweet potato in her hand. She then broke it in half with force and gave one half to Jun Mohan.
"Try it. What does a raw sweet potato taste like?"
Jun Mohan took the half sweet potato Leng Ruo Li handed him, brought it to his lips, and took a small, refined bite. He chewed slowly. It was sweet and crisp, with a rather good texture.
"Not bad. This kind of sweet potato also has a very good raw taste," Jun Mohan praised without reservation.
"Of course. Back when I didn't have the system space, whenever I trained in the primitive forest of the organization's base, I would pack some biscuits, dried meat, or a few raw sweet potatoes in my backpack, along with a water bottle. I'd eat these to satisfy my hunger when I was hungry," Leng Ruo Li recalled her past life in detail.
Jun Mohan listened with great heartache.
"Li'er, I didn't realize your past life was also so difficult. Don't worry, from now on, I won't let you suffer any grievances," Jun Mohan promised.
Leng Ruo Li: "..."
"That was a kind of extreme physical training for survival. It can temper one's willpower and enhance combat capabilities," Leng Ruo Li said helplessly.
"Then, can the training methods you used be applied to the soldiers of this era?"
Jun Mohan's violet eyes flickered as he asked softly.
"Yes, it can. It's a very good physical training method that not only strengthens soldiers' willpower but also enhances their combat capabilities. However, people with weaker physiques will find it unbearable, so those participating in such physical training are selected through layers of screening," Leng Ruo Li explained briefly.
"Mmm, I know this,"
Jun Mohan nodded slightly, as it was similar to practicing martial arts. Even when practicing the same martial art, the results could vary in strength.
"Alright, now let me introduce you to potatoes. You've eaten potatoes before. I've fried hot and sour shredded potatoes for you twice in the space. Do you remember?" Leng Ruo Li asked again, picking up a small potato from the rack.
Jun Mohan shook his head.
"Li'er, I've eaten many dishes you made that are called 'shredded' something, but I only know they were all delicious. I don't know what they were made of," Jun Mohan replied truthfully.
Leng Ruo Li: "..."
Actually, Jun Mohan was right. The ingredients were all cut and placed on plates, losing their original appearance. How could a prince who never did any manual labor recognize what they were?
"It's okay. I'll make you hot and sour shredded potatoes and boiled potatoes with this potato again, so you'll know this is a potato from now on."
"Okay, thank you, Li'er!"
Upon hearing Leng Ruo Li's words, Jun Mohan felt immensely pleased. He would get to eat the food made by Li'er himself again.
Actually, Jun Mohan couldn't recall the potato when Li'er first mentioned it. But later, when he saw Li'er take out the potato, he remembered that hot and sour shredded potatoes was one of the dishes he had eaten.
"And this is corn. Tender corn can be directly boiled and eaten. Older corn can be ground into kernels or cornmeal, which is also delicious when cooked into corn porridge or made into corn cakes," Leng Ruo Li introduced simply.
After Leng Ruo Li finished introducing the sweet potatoes, potatoes, and corn, she also prepared a lunch for Jun Mohan using these three grains.